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Housing is an important asset to our region. Old and new developments offer a diverse mix of styles, materials and landscapes that make the region an attractive place to call home.

Despite the boom and bust of the housing bubble, national and state median home values increased overall during the past decade. Regional home values have been stable since 2000.

Housing tends to be more affordable here than elsewhere in the nation. The median price of purchasing a home is significantly lower than state and national averages while the cost of rental housing is also lower than state and national averages. However, lower incomes result in a less favorable affordability measure for our region's renters.

Nonetheless, some members of our community face significant housing challenges. Rates of homelessness appear to have increased, as evidenced by a 59% increase in emergency shelter placements in Monroe County since 2000.

Another concern is the age of the housing stock, which affects indicators such as healthy neighborhoods and elevated blood-lead levels in children. The issue of blood-lead levels are covered in detail in the Children and Youth section.

Helpful Hints when Browsing this Section:

The measures for this topic are listed under the "Topic Indicators" heading on this page.

By clicking on any of these indicators, you can view the details relating to that measure, including the source of the data and any limitations.

You can also create your own customized charts with this information.

To gain a broader context for the measures, click on "Key Trends".

For information about community efforts to address the issues presented by the indicators, click on "What's Being Done".

"Resources" provides links to a variety of information sources.

Banner photo provided by Rochester Downtown Development Corp. Photo provided by Mary Holleran/Rochester Area Community Foundation.